Ok so I know what you're thinking: WTF is this shit? I'm on my third listen now and it's only just starting to grow on me. I'm not a fan of the brass, reminds me of a poor Ronson-style remix. The complete lack of a guitar riff is just plain odd and the vocals are among the worst Kele's produced. That said, I'm digging the dirty synth in the chorus and the live drums towards the end of the song are pretty cool.

Saw Bloc Party years ago after they released Silent Alarm in the Ulster Hall, a really intimate venue, and it was fantastic. The laid back songs were great but tbh it was songs like Positive Tension and Helicopter that made the gig because it was so sweaty

I've listened to AWITC quite a lot and every time I'm just disappointed tbh. Some good songs but doesn't touch Silent Alarm in terms of quality imo. Though I do think Flux is a quality song.

I like Mercury a lot, hopefully the next album's "Flux", so to speak. I read that the entire album isn't going to have the sound of Mercury though, so anyone who doesn't like the song shouldn't worry too much just yet.

I really hope it's not like Mercury. Fair credit to Bloc, they have every right to experiment, and it will be bring different fans and add to their music variety, but for me (and I'm sure there is others out there), it's just not right. Bloc seemed to be able to release great lyrics and a flowing beat which suited, but this just seems so repetitive. I know I sound picky and arsey, but it's the way it is for me. Please go back Kele, Matt, Russell and Gordo.

Ok so I know what you're thinking: WTF is this shit? I'm on my third listen now and it's only just starting to grow on me. I'm not a fan of the brass, reminds me of a poor Ronson-style remix. The complete lack of a guitar riff is just plain odd and the vocals are among the worst Kele's produced. That said, I'm digging the dirty synth in the chorus and the live drums towards the end of the song are pretty cool.

Still waiting for the angular guitar riff to kick in though.

I hate this new direction; the stuff like this and Flux is just a HUGE jump from what we all know and love about Bloc Party. It's too techno, not enough guitar, and the drums don't make as much of an impression. Oh yeah, and the lyrics suck.

I think everyone is on the side of Bloc Party, no other band has supported the view of The Sex Pistols, and with Kaiser Chiefs, Foals and Neon Neon standing up for Bloc, Kele is surely speaking the truth. It is a shame if it was a racist attack by The Sex Pistols entourage, here is the source:

quote

New details of the bust-up between Bloc Party frontman Kele Okereke and ageing Sex Pistols singer John Lydon emerged today as the Foals' tour manager revealed that three members of the Oxford band suffered injuries during last weekend's fight.

Foals tour manager Nick Jenkin today called Lydon's description of the event at Barcelona's Summercase Festival "totally untrue," and said he watched Okereke being punched by the Sex Pistols' entourage while the band's frontman, known as Johnny Rotten, taunted the Kaiser Chiefs' Ricky Wilson, after he went to the aid of the Bloc Party singer.

Jenkin also told Times Online that Foals frontman Yannis Philippakis tried to help Okereke but was put in a sleeper hold by a security guard until he passed out and was then handcuffed as he lay on the ground. "He had a boot on his back," Jenkin said.

Foals bassist Walter Gervers suffered a black eye and guitarist Jimmy Smith was shoved through a barrier during the brawl on Saturday afternoon, Jenkin said.

Okereke, a Liverpudlian of Nigerian descent, claimed on Monday that he was racially abused and beaten up after he approached Lydon and asked if he had any plans to reform his onetime band Public Image Ltd.

He said The Sex Pistols frontman became "intimidating and aggressive", while his entourage responded with a racist tirade, including the statement, "your problem is your black attitude," before attacking him. He also alleged the Kaiser Chiefs and Foal members who came to his aid were attacked.

Lydon, however, denied the allegations, accusing Okereke of lying about what he described as a "perfect evening". He also rubbished the racism claims, saying the Sex Pistols' fans were made up of a cross-section of races and cultures.

"Its a shame that the wonderful world of the media is riddled with nonsense like this," he said, before calling on Okereke to "grow up and learn to be a true man."

I don't know what everyone's problem with Mercury is, it's the best thing Bloc Party has done since Silent Alarm, and I hope this is a signal for good things to come. For everyone wailing about lack of guitars, suck it up.

Gutted about the bust-up between Johhny Rotten and Kele... I'm guessing Lydon is just a bit too past it and mental to answer a simple question without trying to be controversial... ah well. I do actually fully intend to listen to the Bloc Party's new stuff, as I haven't heard anything new from them since Weekend in the City.

Bloc Party are amazing, i was actually listening to both albums last night on my Ipod. There one of the few bands which i can listen to the whole album without skipping a crap song, i just listen to the whole album through because all songs are good.

BLOC Party's third album, Intimacy, will be available on August 21 and can be pre-ordered now via the band's website

The album will also be available as a CD which will be delivered from October 27 and feature additional songs. Anyone pre-ordering the CD will also receive the digital album from August 21.

Bloc Party alerted fans to Intimacy's existence, as well as their ability to purchase the record instantly, when they hosted their first ever web chat on August 18. The album follows on from the release of their hit single, Mercury, which was released on August 11, 2008.

The album, produced by Paul Epworth (Silent Alarm) and Jacknife Lee (A Weekend in the City), was recorded in Kent and London.

Some songs are Bloc Party at their most wildly experimental, while other tracks are simply classic Bloc Party, fitting in seamlessly amongst fan-favourites Helicopter, Banquet and So Here We Are.

Really looking forward to this, I never expected the album to be released so soon. Can't wait to hear the whole sound of this album after Mercury.